A new poll, conducted by the Trafalgar Group, showed that Josh Mandel is leading the crowded field seeking the Republican nomination to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.
However, JD Vance, Mike Gibbons, and Jane Timken are all within striking distance of the frontrunner, as the trio battles for second place.
According to the data, Mandel has captured the most support among voters thus far with 21.4 percent. Mandel’s numbers are likely boosted due to his statewide name recognition as Ohio Treasurer and failed Senate campaign in 2012.
Venture capitalist and author JD Vance is the next strongest contender, collecting 14.9 percent of the demonstrated support. Following closely behind Vance at 11.9 percent is Mike Gibbons, who has poured millions into his own campaign. Former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken gathered 10.4 percent.
Of the 1,053 Ohio residents that responded to the survey, an overwhelming number—34.4 percent—of voters are still undecided on which candidate they will support in the primary election in May 2022.
Notably, former President Donald Trump has not weighed in on the highly-competitive race, which could give the endorsed candidate much stronger support in the state. Trump won Ohio by eight points in both 2016 and 2020.
While the former president has not offered his endorsement yet, many of his former aides and top congressional allies have. Former Trump National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, former Trump U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Trump administration’s head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Andrew Wheeler, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN-03) have all endorsed Vance. Similarly, former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell and Kellyanne Conway are closely aligned with Bernie Moreno’s campaign.
As election day draws closer, the contest is expecting to grow increasingly negative and costly.
A pro-Mandel group, the Club For Growth Action Super PAC, recently launched a $500,000 ad campaign, painting Vance as “anti-Trump.”
A super PAC connected to Vance’s campaign contains a war chest of more than $10 million after donations from billionaire Peter Thiel and conservative donors Robert and Rebekah Mercer.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Josh Mandel” by Josh Mandel. Photo “Mike Gibbons” by Mike Gibbons.Â
